This is the way I heard it.

Herbie had a problem, and his problem was Bobby Fleischmann.

Bobby was the lead singer in a band that Herbie managed, a band that Herbie knew was destined

for greatness.

Herbie at hand picked the members himself, and they were all rock solid, including Bobby.

The problem was this, unlike the rest of the guys in the band, Bobby insisted on keeping

his agent.

Now with his group on the brink of stardom, Herbie was not interested in sharing the

band's profits with another agent, so Bobby had to go.

And Herbie already had his replacement lined up, a 28-year-old, unrepresented singer of

Portuguese descent, a singer with a voice unlike anything Herbie had ever heard.

But Herbie had another problem.

Bobby was close with his bandmates.

If any of them smelled a rat, the band would very likely rebel, and Herbie knew from bitter

experience just how quickly a tour could fall to pieces if the band wasn't jelling.

So Herbie orchestrated a hostile takeover, rock and roll style.

He hired Bobby Fleischmann's replacement, not as a singer, but as a rowdy.

As a rowdy, Herbie figured that Bobby's replacement could observe every performance up close

and personal, and learn every song without a rousing suspicion.

But Herbie had yet one more problem.

Rodies were large, handy, hairy, and covered with tattoos.

Bobby's replacement was none of those things.

...